4-Deoxy-4-fluoro-xyloside derivatives as inhibitors of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis

Various 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-xylosides were prepared using click chemistry for evaluating their potential utility as inhibitors of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. 2,3-Di-O-benzoyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-xylopyranosylazide, obtained from L-arabinopyranose by six steps, was treated with a wide variety of azide-reactive triple bond-containing hydrophobic agents in the presence of Cu2+ salt/ascorbic acid, a step known as click chemistry. After click chemistry, benzoylated derivatives were deprotected under Zemplen conditions to obtain 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-xyloside derivatives. A mixture of alpha: beta-isomers of twelve derivatives were then separated on a reverse phase C18 column using HPLC and the resulting twenty four 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-xylosides were evaluated for their ability to inhibit glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis in endothelial cells. We identified two xyloside derivatives that selectively inhibit heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate/derman sulfate biosynthesis without affecting cell viability. These novel derivatives can potentially be used to define the biological actions of proteoglycans in model organisms and also as therapeutic agents to combat various human diseases in which glycosaminoglycans participate. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.